Israel has officially ceased the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip, cutting off a crucial power source for the territory’s primary desalination plant, a facility responsible for providing desperately needed drinking water to tens of thousands of residents in the coastal enclave. The move, confirmed by Israeli officials on Sunday, follows an earlier decision to halt the flow of goods into Gaza, further tightening the siege on Hamas-controlled territory as the war rages on.
Hamas immediately lashed out at the decision, branding it a "starvation policy" and accusing Israel of escalating what it calls "collective punishment" against Gaza’s two million residents. Israeli officials, however, insist that the measure is a necessary response to Hamas’ refusal to release hostages and commit to a ceasefire that ensures long-term security for Israeli citizens.
A Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
The power shutdown has already triggered dire consequences. The desalination plant in Deir al-Balah, which normally produces up to 18,000 cubic meters of clean drinking water daily, has been forced to slash its output to a meager 2,500 cubic meters—barely a drop in the bucket compared to the population’s needs. With power now dependent on dwindling fuel reserves for emergency generators, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is poised to deteriorate even further.
The Israeli energy minister, Eli Cohen, has authorised to halt electricity to Gaza. As I've said before, the only electricity Israel currently supplies directly to Gaza is to operate water desalination plants.
— Imshin (@imshin) March 9, 2025
Gaza has large stores of diesel for generators, which is the main… pic.twitter.com/EsnGjF9efD
“This is catastrophic,” said Tania Hary, executive director of the Israeli human rights organization Gisha. “Not only does this drastically reduce the availability of clean water, but it puts immense strain on hospitals, sewage systems, and basic living conditions. The lack of fuel is an even bigger problem—without it, electricity, water distribution, and emergency medical services will grind to a halt.”
The timing of the electricity cutoff aligns with the collapse of ceasefire negotiations, further fueling tensions in an already volatile standoff. The latest round of talks saw Israel demanding Hamas release at least half of the remaining hostages—believed to include 24 living individuals and the bodies of 35 others—in exchange for engaging in negotiations toward a broader ceasefire. Hamas, however, is holding firm on its demand for an immediate transition to a comprehensive truce that includes a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a mass prisoner exchange.
He got destroyed by the comments:
— Liza Rosen (@LizaRosen0000) March 9, 2025
1. It doesn’t: most electricity in Gaza is produced by generators and fuel. Israel only provides electricity for the desalination plant in central Gaza.
2. If someone stole your son, how long would you wait until you stopped supplying them with… https://t.co/Wt6xzAnXJs
Strategic Pressure or Siege Tactics?
Israel’s latest move underscores its broader strategy to apply maximum pressure on Hamas, making it increasingly difficult for the group to sustain governance and military operations within the besieged territory. By cutting off electricity, Israel forces Hamas to make difficult choices about how to allocate its remaining fuel supplies—diverting them from military stockpiles to sustain essential services, or risking further backlash from the international community over worsening humanitarian conditions.
The international response to Israel’s latest measures has been swift and divided. While Israeli officials maintain that Hamas is entirely responsible for the suffering in Gaza due to its refusal to release hostages and negotiate in good faith, human rights organizations and foreign governments have raised concerns about the broader impact on civilians.
Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen (Likud) signed an order on Sunday instructing the Electric Company to stop supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip immediately. Until now, Israel would only transfer electricity directly to the water desalination plant in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/GWIpe1VNDp
— Israel National News - Arutz Sheva (@ArutzSheva_En) March 9, 2025
With hospitals struggling to function, food and water supplies dwindling, and the risk of disease outbreaks mounting, the decision to sever Gaza’s power supply is poised to deepen an already devastating crisis. The coming days will reveal whether this strategy forces Hamas to the negotiating table—or whether it further entrenches the cycle of war, suffering, and political deadlock that has plagued the region for decades.
